Pittsburgh Housing Authority Will Vote on New Director

The city board is set to vote Thursday on the appointment of Ivory Mathews as the new executive director.

Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in People

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a municipal building facade, symbolizing the institutional process of administrative governance. — The Pittsburgh Housing Authority board will meet Thursday to vote on the appointment of Ivory Mathews as its new executive director. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh board will meet Thursday to vote on appointing Ivory Mathews to lead the agency. If approved, Mathews is expected to take office on Oct. 1.

Why it matters

The appointment follows the resignation of current head Caster Binion, who is scheduled to leave his position at the end of the month. The potential hiring occurs while Mathews remains the subject of an active investigation by the Oregon Government Ethics Commission.

A preliminary inquiry alleged that $100,000 in public funds was spent on non-business travel expenses over a three-year period. The Oregon Government Ethics Commission voted in August to launch a full investigation into these allegations.

The players

Ivory Mathews

She is the nominee for executive director of the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh and a former head of the Portland agency Home Forward.

Caster Binion

He is the current head of the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh and is scheduled to step down at the end of September.

Oregon Government Ethics Commission

This is the regulatory body currently conducting a full investigation into allegations of misuse of public funds by Ivory Mathews.

The details

Ivory Mathews resigned from her role as executive director of Home Forward in Portland in May following the travel expense allegations. The allegations involve trips to locations including Hawaii, Las Vegas, Alaska, Orlando, and Washington, D.C.

Ivory Mathews resigned as executive director of Home Forward in May 2026.
The Oregon ethics commission voted to open a full investigation in August 2026.
The Pittsburgh housing authority board will vote on the appointment on September 26, 2026.
Caster Binion is scheduled to leave his position on September 30, 2026.
Ivory Mathews is expected to take office on October 1, 2026.

Market Landscape

This appointment process plays out under the oversight of the Oregon Government Ethics Commission. Such investigations into public sector leadership frequently shape the scrutiny boards apply to incoming executive candidates.

Residents may see a change in leadership at the city housing agency starting in October if the board approves the appointment. This shift could impact how the authority manages local housing operations and addresses constituent needs moving forward.

The takeaway

The appointment remains subject to the board's vote following public scrutiny of the candidate's professional record. Local stakeholders will likely monitor how the housing authority addresses these questions during the transition period.